Tennessee football picked up the commitment of Penn State defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam on Thursday. Shortly after, he began peer recruiting. He posted on his X account in the direction of his former PSU teammates edge rusher Chaz Coleman, defensive back Dejuan Lane and linebacker Amare Campbell.
In response to Gilliam’s post, Campbell revealed he plans to be in Knoxville for a visit on Friday.
“Rocky Top See Yall Tmr,” Campbell wrote with an orange emoji.
Rocky Top See Yall Tmr 🍊 @CoachJimKnowles @Coachpoindexter https://t.co/8vL7h3bfep
— Amare🐐 (@amareGcampbell) January 9, 2026
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Campbell is coming off his junior season and will have one year of eligibility remaining. He spent his first two seasons at North Carolina before entering the transfer portal to join Penn State this past season.
During the 2025 season, Campbell notched 103 tackles and three sacks. His tackles mark easily led the Nittany Lions.
Adding Campbell would be much more than just picking up a good linebacker, too. He played for new Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles last season and has a firm grasp of the system at this point. Having a player in the middle of the defense who is comfortable could go a long way.
Campbell would join a linebacker room that already has a good amount of talent. Tennessee will return Edwin Spillman, Jadon Perlotte and Jeremiah Telander, all of whom played a significant role this year. Other young pieces seemingly set to return include Jaedon Harmon and Jordan Burns, while veteran Ben Bolton is also in the mix.
Incoming freshmen include a pair of highly-rated four-star recruits. Both Brayden Rouse and TJ White could fight for playtime as early as their true freshman season.
If Campbell does commit, it’s tough to not see him as a day-one starter, though, likely pairing him up with Spillman.
